Code-First Approach In MVC 5

Here, we are going to learn about the Code First approach in MVC. Basically, I am used to the Database-First approach. It is obvious that both the Code-First approach and DB First approach are useful in their own context but I would like to summarize the basic usage of these as per my working experience.

When to use DB-First Approach?

When to use Code- First?

What we will learn?

1. Creating a blank database.
2. Creating a MVC Project (UI)
3. Creating a Class Library Project (DAL)
4. Code First Approach implementation.
5. Migration in MVC
6. Creating CRUD Operation.

Creating Blank Database

Step 1

Open SQL Server.

Step 2

Connect to Database Server.

Step 3

You will be able to see your newly created database on Server.

Creating a MVC Project

Step 1

Open Visual Studio.

Step 2

Go to File => New Project.

1. Select Visual C# => Web => ASP.NET Web Application.
2. Name your Solution (eg. EasyCRM) and Project (EasyCRM.UI) and then click OK.
3. Select MVC.
4. Change Authentication to "Individual User Accounts".
   
   

Creating a class Library Project (DAL)

Step 1

Right click on Solution Explorer to add new project.

Step 2

Select Visual C# => Windows => Class Library.

Adding Entity Framework to DAL Project.

Step 1

Right click on DAL Project and select "Manage NuGet Packages".

Step 2

Browse Entity Framework and Install.

Code First Approach

Now, add 3 folders to EasyCRM.DAL Project named as

1. DataConnection
2. Entity
3. Identity

Creating Entity for Customer

• Add a new folder inside Entity, named as Customer.
• Add New Class called Customer_PersonalDetail.cs.
• Add the following code inside the class.
  
  1. public string CP { get; set;}
  3. [Required(ErrorMessage = "City required")]
  4. public string City {get;set;}
  6. [Required(ErrorMessage = "Contact person required")]
  7. [DisplayName("Contact person")]
  8. public string ContactPerson {get;set;}
  10. [Required(ErrorMessage = "Telephone required")]
  11. [DisplayName("Telephone")]
  12. [Phone]
  13. public string Phone {get;set;}
  15. [Required(ErrorMessage = "Email required")]
  16. [RegularExpression(@ "\w+([-+.']\w+)*@\w+([-.]\w+)*\.\w+([-.]\w+)*", ErrorMessage = "Wrong email format")]
  17. [EmailAddress]
  18. public string Email {get;set;}
  20. public string Notes {get;set;}
• Add new class called "Users" under Entity folder.
• The new class file should look like it -
  
  1. using System;
  2. using System.Collections.Generic;
  3. using System.Linq;
  4. using System.Text;
  5. using System.Threading.Tasks;
  6. using Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.EntityFramework;
  7. using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
  8. namespace EasyCRM.DAL.Entity {
  9. public class Users IdentityUser {
  10. [Required]
  11. public string Name {get;set;}
  13. [Required]
  14. public string Address get;set;}
  16. [Required]
  17. public string Gender {get; set; }
  18. }
  19. }